In one of my classes we are reading the fifth revision of a classic book on leadership, The Leadership Challenge, by Kouzes and Posner. It is a great book, filled with all kinds of practical advice on how to be an effective leader. The principles were true twenty-five years ago and still are today, plus the newest revision was recent, so the examples and case studies are all up to date. I recommend this book. One of the things which got my attention as I read was, “People want to follow only those who can see beyond today’s problems and visualize a brighter tomorrow.” This statement was made after a detailed description of a car driving down the coast of Northern California in the fog. If you have ever done this, you know how treacherous that can be, for as the book points out, you can be driving and enjoying the bright sun and clear conditions only to have dense fog suddenly engulf your car as you go around a curve just north of San Francisco. It’s terrifying, and it really slows you down. (If you’re smart, at least!)
The purpose of telling the story is because leadership can be like tha, too. You can be sailing along in a clear, sunny condition, then suddenly, fog hits and you must slow down. You have to deal with it even though you would prefer to continue to drive quickly. The fact of the matter is that when things are clear, progress is easier, however, every so often, fog happens! Good leaders, however, prepare for the fog before it comes, so that when it hits, they handle it in a way that instills confidence in their people because of their preparation. Kouzes and Posner cite various studies that show that leaders who are highly proactive are viewed as much more effective by their people and peers. Many people tend to be reactive, and when the fogs of life come, they slow down or even pull over to the side of the road. But the leaders whom people really want to follow proactively put systems in place to deal with the fog before it’s a problem. They have the ability to see beyond the fog and are clear about the road ahead.
As a leader, you want your future to be clear, even when the fog comes. That takes planning and preparation. We need to anticipate the challenges we may face and be ready when they come, which they always do. Sometimes, if you have fog lights already installed on the bumper of your truck, all that it will take is flipping the switch when the fog appears. You may not even have to slow down much at all, and before you know it, conditions are sunny and clear once again.
Lead well.